CES maintains a range of programming that targets students, scholars, and policy experts at all stages of their careers. Among these programs is the CES Pre-Dissertation Research Fellowship, previously funded by the Mellon foundation. CES' Pre-Dissertation Research Fellowship is currently sustained by three primary funders: the Alliance between Columbia University, École Polytechnique, Sciences Po, and The Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris; The Harriman Institute at Columbia University; and the Society for the Anthropology of Europe of the American Anthropological Association.

Moreover, CES administers the Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship in partnership with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to facilitate the timely completion of the doctoral degree by late-stage graduate students in the humanities focusing on topics in European Studies. Each fellowship includes a $25,000 stipend as well as assistance in securing reimbursements or waivers for up to $3,500 in eligible health insurance and candidacy fees.

Both kinds of fellowships, in addition to their cash stipends, include the opportunity to publish in CES' online journaland travel assistance to present at a CES Conference. Moreover, selected scholars have access to either seminars or workshops at CES conferences and two webinars each year devoted to topics of early professional interest.

What grants and special awards does CES offer?

Every two years, the Council for European Studies awards its European Studies Book Award, which recognizes the best first book on a topic in European Studies. Winners of the CES book award receive $1,000 and recognition in the Council's publications and on its website.

The Council for European Studies offers an annual Conference Travel Grant to fund the travel of junior faculty and graduate students to CES Conferences. Winners receive a cash grant of $500 and a waiver of their registration fee as well as recognition in the conference program and on the Council's website.

As part of its ongoing mission to recognize and encourage excellence in European Studies, the Council for European Studies now offers two European Studies First Article Prizes, one in the humanities and one in the social sciences.

As funding becomes available, the Council for European Studies runs special competitions for travel and research grants that support scholarly exchange and the creation of new knowledge. Information about upcoming travel and research grant competitions are provided in the Council's newsletter and on its website.

Generally, applicants must be either an individual member of the Council or affiliated with a university or other institution that is a member of the Council for European Studies' Academic Consortium. For a list of institutions belonging to the CES Academic Consortium, visit our list of institutional members. If an applicant's institution is not a member, every effort will be made by CES to reach out to the institution regarding institutional membership.

The only exception to this requirement is the Conference Travel Grant, which does not require membership in the Council as an application prerequisite.

Is my country or area of interest included in "European Studies"?

Odds are, yes! CES funds projects related to Europe broadly defined, including areas such as Turkey, the UK, Russia and Eastern Europe, and Iceland. In the past, the Council has even sponsored research pertaining to colonial topics, as long as Europe is a central component of the project. If you are still unsure if your research is eligible, contact CES directly for clarification.

Do I need to be formally affiliated with a university or research center in Europe in order to apply?

This is not a prerequisite. Nevertheless, if you have such an invitation or affiliation, please note it in your application.

What research areas does CES support?

CES takes a broad interpretation of European Studies, setting no specific parameters regarding period or discipline. Thus, applicants of all disciplines pursuing research relevant to European Studies are encouraged to apply.

However, the Mellon-CES dissertation completion fellowship is restricted to graduate students in the Humanities. The pre-dissertation research fellowship funded by the Society for the Anthropology of Europe is restricted to students specializing in Anthropology. Similarly, the Harriman-CES Pre-Dissertation Research Fellowship is limited to graduate students at Columbia University specializing in topics on Central and Eastern Europe.

Which books are eligible for consideration for the Council's European Studies Book Award competition?

The CES Book Award honors the work of talented new scholars and is given for the best first book on any subject in European Studies published within a two-year period. For example, the 2017 Book Award competition, each nominated title must meet the following criteria:

• must be the first book written by the nominee in the field of European Studies;
• must be published between October 15, 2014 and October 14, 2016;
• must not be a reprint or re-edition of a previously published book;
• must be the work of one author only;
• the author must be a member of the Council for European Studies or must hold a full-time faculty appointment at an institution that is a member.

Who is allowed to nominate books for consideration for the Council’s European Studies Book Award competition?

Nominations may be submitted online via the European Studies Book Award Nomination Form by the publisher, author, or an admiring colleague, and must be accompanied by six (6) copies of the nominated title separately mailed to the Council for European Studies and the five members of its Book Award Committee.

Is my article eligible for the European Studies First Article Prize competition?

To be eligible for the European Studies First Article Prize, applicants must meet four criteria. First, the applicant must be a member of CES or be affiliated with an institution that is. Second, the article must be the applicant’s first article published in the field of European Studies. Third, the article must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Fourth, the article must be the work of one author only or be an article on which the nominee is the first author.

Are articles written in languages other than English eligible for the European Studies First Article Prize?

CES accepts nominations for articles written in English, French, German, and Spanish.

What do you mean by “humanities” and “social sciences” in relation to the First Article Prize?

For the purposes of the First Article Prize competition, the Committee will consider the “humanities” as including English, comparative literature, history, classics, religion, philosophy, rhetoric, law, the arts, linguistics, and specific language studies. The "social sciences" will be defined as including anthropology, economics, sociology, geography, political science/government, education, communications/marketing, international relations, and psychology. This list is not comprehensive. For more specific guidance on issues of disciplinary eligibility, please contact CES at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Who is allowed to nominate articles for consideration for the CES' European Studies First Article Prize competition?

Nominations may be submitted by the publisher, author, journal editor, or an admiring colleague, and must be accompanied by a PDF copy of the article.

Applications are evaluated by a committee whose members represent a range of disciplines and institutions. Applicants can expect to be notified of the selection committee's decisions in May.

How can applicants learn the status of their applications?

CES will not field requests for the status of individual applications. All applicants who have submitted applications or nominations by deadline will be notified if their application is incomplete by CES staff. If you have submitted an application and do not receive notification, please assume your application is complete or contact CES at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have concerns.

When are book award nominees notified of the results of the European Studies Book Award competition and what does the winner receive?

A multi-disciplinary Book Award Committee appointed by CES' Executive Committee will choose the winner and a formal presentation of the award will be conducted at the CES' Meetings and Conferences (Washington, D.C., March 2014). The winning author will receive $1,000 and travel assistance to attend the conference and award ceremony. Both the winner and top two finalists will be recognized in CES publications and on its website.

Yes, all CES fellows (pre-dissertation and dissertation completion) are required to present their research at a CES conference and to prepare a short research article suitable for publication in the CES' online journal. Winners of all other awards and prizes are not required to attend.